CORRESPONDENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 April 1929, Page 1

CORRESPONDENCE.

ABOUT SLUGS

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —1 have received a letter from Professor Drummond re the large, strange slug that has appeared all over Ross since January. This insect has never been seen in Ross bciore and I am of opinion that the spawn from it was deposited by tlie shower of Australian mud that doll here last winter. It measures six to seven inches in length, when crawling along the ground and half an inch thick. It is hoautifullv marked with longitudinal and transverse stripes. Underneath its stomach it hits a sort id suction plate of tough leathery material. It is not a- garden slug, as I tailed to find any trace of it in the garden or about the cabbages. It thrives about rotten and old timber aiul I discovered them amongst old bones and oifnl I had buried in my manure heap. Its slime is the most adhesive that ever 1 cm me across, ten times worse than an eel’s, and I had some trouble to remove it from mv lingers. Hot and cold water won’t dissolve it.

You can imagine the exasperation ot some housekeepers when they tried 1 nth tlmt slime off their linoleum and kitchen Honrs. The slugs come up in the night from underneath the houses and leave their slimy tracks wherever they move, and when caught ate promptly consigned to the (lames. Professor Drummond forwarded specimen I sent him to the Canterbury Museum. Tie stales it is the “ Groat Slug ” of the Old Country and is nailed “ Limns Maximus ” and was accidentally introduced into New Zealand some years ago. I think, they should have named o*' boaslly insect “Slimtis Maximus Gigantic” It is as tough as a piece of rubber and one Rossi to got 11 ~i,si'-vi '- v fall through stepping on one In the dark. If it breeds next season likojt did this season in all (|uarlers <d town the women will he saying “Ora Pro Nobis.”

I tun, etc., A. P. SHARKEY Hoss, April 12tlit